Official Career Storm
Chapter 498

Chapter 498: Chapter 498

Returning to the guest house and coming out of the elevator, Song Guanchao said, "Chairman Liu, I need to discuss something with you."

Ning Lin didn’t think much of it and went back to her room on her own.

Liu Lanzi stayed in a suite, which included a living room and a room with an en-suite bathroom.

After entering the room, Song Guanchao sat down and briefly explained the evening’s events to her.

Upon learning that the woman was a permanent vice governor, Liu Lanzi was slightly surprised.

She knew that the other party was definitely a high-ranking official from the province, but she didn’t realize they were that high up.

Song Guanchao said, "Dujiang City is now quite unstable, with Chen Guanyun leading the local faction to besiege and suppress Secretary Zhang. Even if there aren’t any mistakes, they fabricate them."

"They know I have a good relationship with Secretary Zhang. During my time in Dujiang City, they’ll also be watching for me to slip up."

Liu Lanzi hadn’t expected that even after Hou Wen had fallen, Dujiang City was still not dead and buried.

Nor had she expected them to strike so ruthlessly.

If it hadn’t been for Song Guanchao today, Zhang Meilin might have escaped danger, but it would have only been a temporary escape.

There was no chance to turn the tables.

Liu Lanzi looked at him and asked, "So, you’re going back?"

Song Guanchao gave an awkward cough and a smile, "Who knows if Chen Guanyun’s people have arranged someone to watch outside. If I stay in your room too long, it could easily be used against me."

Liu Lanzi rolled her eyes in speechlessness.

She knew Song Guanchao was saying so much to keep her from overthinking.

She walked over, sat next to him, and gently pecked his lips, "Then you should head back."

Song Guanchao hugged her and flicked his tongue out in a circle, "When I return to Lingjiang, make me some braised pork."

This made Liu Lanzi blush and her heart race. Hearing his words, she smiled sweetly, "Okay."

...

Several people were at Chen Guanyun’s house.

He hadn’t stopped smoking; the ashtray on the table was filled with cigarette butts.

Director Yao was struggling with the oppressive atmosphere, "Mr. Chen..."

Before he could finish, Chen Guanyun suddenly stared at him, "Did you tamper with the elevator?"

Director Yao hesitated, lowered his head in slight embarrassment, and admitted his act.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

Chen Guanyun’s fury that had built up all night burst forth, with the cigarette nearly jabbing his face.

"That’s a provincial leader, you fuck. If you want to die, don’t drag us with you!"

Even Secretary Yang and the others were shocked.

They had thought the elevator had just coincidentally broken.

But it turned out, Yao Jinsheng had meddled with it.

They felt a cold chill, had this guy gone mad?

Typically, flaunting power locally was one thing, but to dare play such games with provincial leaders.

Did he think he had too long a life?

Yao Jinsheng explained, "My intention was, with the elevator broken, I’d pry it open in time for Governor Qu to see my calm and courageous act in an emergency, possibly earning his favor and a lighter handling of the situation."

"You..."

They didn’t even know what to say anymore.

Was this guy’s brain fried in his childhood?

This isn’t how you play a hero.

An elevator breakdown isn’t something for you to fix!

Chen Guanyun exhaled and didn’t pursue the topic further.

Thankfully, the elevator hadn’t caused any serious issues; that was a huge relief.

"All right, who drugged Jin Rong?"

"Not me!" Director Yao was the first to deny.

Secretary Yang and the others also shook their heads, indicating it wasn’t their doing.

"If no one drugged him, then how did the drugs just appear?"

They were all present during the drug test; it was impossible for anyone to have tampered with it.

But they didn’t appear to be lying, and lying would be useless anyway.

Another issue that couldn’t be figured out.

Mr. Chen felt exhausted and looked at Director Yao, "Your policemen, haven’t they seen Zhang Meilin? They even took a photo, how could they misidentify him?"

Yao Jinsheng said, "It really isn’t their fault. Secretary Jin showed only half his face and when someone came in, he dived straight under the quilt."

Mr. Chen was speechless. He felt all his subordinates were incompetent, not a single one could get things done properly.

Such a perfect plan, yet executed so poorly.

Secretary Yang said, "We should not act impulsively during this time, Director Yao, you better rush out a report first. I don’t think Governor Qu wants to pursue it."

"Regarding Secretary Zhang, don’t touch him for now. He is not a fool, he certainly knows what happened tonight and will be on guard against us from now on."

Mr. Chen nodded.

With such matters, if not done, they must be done thoroughly.

Now that their intentions had been revealed, Zhang Meilin wouldn’t give them another chance.

Moreover, they had completely burnt their bridges.

Their advantage was rooted locally over many years; Zhang Meilin couldn’t play hard.

They just needed to move step by step, they could still sideline him and make him submit.

"I will make a trip to the city tomorrow," Chen Guanyun said.

This incident would definitely be known to the city authorities.

He wasn’t sure how the city saw Dujiang City or their actions. He needed to probe.

If the city was willing to support him, he could use Dujiang City’s seat as a bargaining chip with the city.

This thought made Chen Guanyun feel that he had a significant advantage.

At least bigger than Zhang Meilin’s.

Local officials have many limitations and narrow perspectives.

This was vividly demonstrated by Chen Guanyun and his peers.

Strictly speaking, they were only county-level officials without the experience of governing at the city level.

Whether in terms of experience or vision, they were still confined to the county level.

Under the leadership of Hou Wen, they had been in power for too long, both in terms of struggle experience and the ability to analyze situations, they were not on the same level as city officials.

For example, in the Hou Wen Case, when Zhang Meilin suddenly stepped in, they thought it was because he had no backing and thus needed to show himself this way.

Secretary Lu and others initially thought so too, but then, within two days, as Song Guanchao retrieved the money, they changed their previous view.

Although they didn’t know what method Song Guanchao had used, from an overview of the Hou Wen Case, it was clear that Song Guanchao seemed confident from the start.

Zhang Meilin and those named by Song Guanchao to be involved in the case all belonged to Wu Qiangwei’s faction.

Clearly, Song Guanchao was using this case to place these people in advantageous positions early, to reap the rewards.

However, Chen Guanyun and his peers couldn’t see this.

Their vision was too limited.

Take tonight’s incident.

Even if Jin Rong took the initiative, Qu Xiangru still suspected Song Guanchao and even tried to probe.

Jin Rong’s first reaction was also Song Guanchao.

But Chen Guanyun and his peers never thought in this direction.

In other words, if not for being sheltered by the remnants of Hou Wen, a minor clerk position would be the summit of their careers.

Be it capability, experience, or vision, the gap between them and city officials was like comparing glowworms with the bright moon.

Not entering city level, meeting city officials is like a frog in a well seeing the moon above.

And if ever they stepped into city level, meeting provincial officials would be like a tiny ant seeing the vast sky.

This gap was palpable.

This made the situation even more desperate.

But there were always some individuals who could rise above their administrative levels.

Tu Zhaorui was one, Hou Wen was half, and Song Guanchao was also one.

These individuals are like hidden dragons!

Once they gained power, they thrived like fish in water, leaping through the dragon’s gate, riding the southern winds, breaking through waves, and sailing across the seas confidently.

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